The art of writing children's books

X-ray tech has a passion for illustrating and storytelling

Elizabeth Floyd Mai, Times Union

By Elizabeth Floyd Mair

Published 4:55 pm, Thursday, August 29, 2013

Monstergarten, written by Albany's Daniel J. Mahoney, was distributed by a major children's book publisher this year. But unlike other book's Mahoney's done, he wasn't the illustrator. (Feiwel and Friends)

Monstergarten, written by Albany's Daniel J. Mahoney, was...

One of Daniel J. Mahoney's original illustrations for his book "Monstergarten." The publishing company used images by another illustrator for Mahoney's story. (Courtesy of Daniel J. Mahoney)

One of Daniel J. Mahoney's original illustrations for his book...

Daniel Mahoney, author of the children's book "Monstergarten," reads the book to his son Ryan, 9, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, at Mahoney's home studio in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Daniel Mahoney, author of the children's book "Monstergarten,"...

Daniel Mahoney, author of the children's book "Monstergarten," sits in his home studio Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Daniel Mahoney, author of the children's book "Monstergarten," sits...

Daniel Mahoney, author of the children's book "Monstergarten," sits in his home studio Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Daniel Mahoney, author of the children's book "Monstergarten," sits...

"Monstergarten," a children's book written by local author Daniel Mahoney, lays on the drawing table in his home studio Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

"Monstergarten," a children's book written by local author Daniel...

"Monstergarten," a children's book written by local author Daniel Mahoney, lays on the drawing table in his home studio Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Albany native Daniel J. Mahoney is a radiologic technologist at St. Peter's Hospital by day. He's also been writing and illustrating children's books for the past 13 years. He recently had a book published by the major children's book publisher Feiwel and Friends, a division of McMillan.

"Monstergarten" is about a little monster named Patrick and his apprehension at the approach of the first day of kindergarten. Will he be scary enough? Patrick spends the last days of summer flashing his fangs, growling, raising his arms and worrying. Will he be as scary as his classmates?

This is the first time that Mahoney has been solely the author of a book, and he said it's a role he's still getting used to.

"I'm usually the artist," he said.

"Monstergarten" was a project he pitched to an editor in the form of both story and sketches and revised with her for a year before winning a contract. Unfortunately, his success came with a slightly bittersweet caveat: She wanted to use a different, better-known illustrator on the project.

Mahoney, 44, lives in Albany and shares custody of his 9-year-old son. He spoke recently by telephone about juggling the demands of parenthood, a full-time job that pays the bills and his passion for storytelling.

Q: You were a radiologic technologist before you were a children's book author and illustrator, right? How did you become interested in children's books?

A: Well, I've always loved to draw and make up stories, ever since I was a kid. And I've always felt like I was a pretty good artist, so once I got something to fall back on — the trade as an X-ray tech — I wanted to pursue a career in some kind of art. And then one day I went to the children's section of a bookstore to look for a present for my niece, who was 7.

I looked at all the books and thought, "Wow, these are just so beautiful." And then I thought, "This seems like something I might be able to do." I thought the kind of art I did was suitable for the genre.

Q: Have you always done art that's sort of childlike or cute, then?

A: As long as I can remember, like in grade school or middle school, I always loved getting those blank notebooks for school, the kind with a nice surface that's suitable for drawing. I would draw animals and people all over the covers, cute stuff like I do now. I've always been interested in doing the cartoonish, whimsical type of artwork. I never really got into fine art, or realistic drawing.

Q: What's it like combining a full-time job and parenthood with being an author/illustrator? When do you find time to work on books?

A: I'm still asking that myself!

It comes in very precious little moments here and there, you know? My son is with his mother half the time, so those are some times where I can work. A lot of times I just kind of force myself. If my son goes to bed around 9, then I go to my studio, and by that time I'm pretty tired from working all day, but I try to sit there and do some painting or write a story.

Q: Is your son following in your footsteps so far?

A: As a matter of fact, he is. He loves to make up his own stories and to write little comics. He's an amazing artist for his age.